2021-25-06: Time Limits/Maintenance Checks, Fuselage

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-25-16, Amendment 39-19527 (83 FR 64441, December 17, 2018); and b. Adding the following new AD: 2021-25-06 Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.): Amendment 39-21849; Docket No. FAA-2021-0621; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01517-T. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 15, 2022. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2018-25-16, Amendment 39-19527 (83 FR 64441, December 17, 2018) (AD 2018-25-16). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (formerly known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/Maintenance Checks; and 53, Fuselage. (e) Reason This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, including inspections for discrepancies (cracking) of certain structural elements, are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address fatigue cracking, damage, and corrosion in principal structural elements; such fatigue cracking, damage, and corrosion could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0251, dated November 11, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0251). (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0251 (1) Where EASA AD 2020-0251 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) The requirements specified in paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2020-0251 do not apply to this AD. (3) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2020-0251 specifies actions if discrepancies are found while accomplishing any task "required by paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this [EASA] AD," this AD requires actions if discrepancies are found while accomplishing any task "required by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of EASA AD 2020-0251." (4) Where paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2020-0251 specifies actions "in case of finding discrepancies," for this AD, discrepancies include fatigue cracking. (5) Paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2020-0251 specifies revising "the approved AMP" within 12 months after its effective date, but this AD requires, for airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before March 20, 2018, revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the "limitations, tasks and associated thresholds and intervals" specified in paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2020-0251 within 90 days after the effective date of this AD. (6) For airplanes with an original airworthiness certificate or original export certificate of airworthiness issued on or before March 20, 2018, the initial compliance time for doing the tasks specified in paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2020-0251 is at the applicable "thresholds" as incorporated by the requirements of paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2020-0251, or within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. (7) The provisions specified in paragraphs (7) and (8) of EASA AD 2020-0251 do not apply to this AD. (8) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2020-0251 does not apply to this AD. (i) New Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been revised as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative actions ( e.g., inspections) and intervals are allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of the "Ref. Publications" section of EASA AD 2020-0251. (j) No Reporting Requirement Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0251 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (k) Additional AD Provisions The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Defense and Space S.A.'s EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature. (l) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3220; email shahram.daneshmandi@faa.gov. (m) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0251, dated November 11, 2020. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA AD 2020-0251, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; Internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. (5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. Issued on December 2, 2021. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2021-28579 Filed 1-10-22; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P